Counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the name First Federal Savings Bank of Florida, Lake City, Florida, are reportedly in circulation

First Federal Bank of Florida, Lake City, Florida, has contacted the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to report that counterfeit cashier's checks bearing the institution's name are in circulation.

The counterfeit items display the routing number 263184488, which is assigned to First Federal Bank of Florida. The items are similar to authentic cashier's checks; however, the counterfeit items display a security feature statement along the bottom border between two padlocks.

Authentic checks display the words "REMITTER FFBF" in the lower-left corner of the check.

Copies of a counterfeit item and an authentic check (VOID) are attached for your review. Be aware that the appearance of counterfeit items can be modified and that additional variations may be presented.

Any information you have concerning this matter should be brought to the attention of:

Kathy Baird
Vice President
First Federal Bank of Florida
P.O. Box 2029
Lake City, Florida 32056
Telephone: (386) 755-0600, extension 3174
Fax: (386) 754-7163
E-mail: bairdk@ffsb.com

Information about counterfeit items, cyber-fraud incidents and other fraudulent activity may be forwarded to the FDIC's Cyber-Fraud and Financial Crimes Section, 550 17th Street, N.W., Room F-4004, Washington, D.C. 20429, or transmitted electronically to alert@fdic.gov. Questions related to federal deposit insurance or consumer issues should be submitted to the FDIC using an online form that can be accessed at http://www2.fdic.gov/starsmail/index.asp.

For your reference, FDIC Special Alerts may be accessed from the FDIC's website at www.fdic.gov/news/news/SpecialAlert/2008/index.html. To learn how to automatically receive FDIC Special Alerts through e-mail, please visit www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html.

Sandra L. Thompson
Director
Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection